Isn’t it odd that people tend to have a lot of opinions about and police what women wear? It’s almost as if it’s a distraction tactic to take attention and resources away from solving actual problems in the world. Also, it’s nothing more than exhibiting power over groups of people, and taking away their autonomy. In the same week we saw the EU legislate that hijabs can be banned in the workforce, the Norwegian women’s volleyball team were slapped with a fine for not playing in bikini bottoms. How can you champion women’s rights, but then also create barriers for them to have access to education, work, and sport? When German female gymnasts opted for full body leotards during this year’s Olympics, and praised for their decision, I couldn’t but help but think of how Muslim women who choose to cover themselves aren’t afforded the same treatment.

I understand that these laws and legislations are coming from a place of promoting secularism, to fight against the rise of extremism. However, I can’t help but note the glaring disparity in the treatment of Muslim women. I am also not entirely sure how someone choosing to wear their religious attire is seen as promoting extremism. If we can agree that seeing a nun in public isn’t considered as her pushing her ideologies down our throats, I fail to see how this is applicable to others. Make it make sense to me, please. The opposite is also true: women shouldn’t be forced to cover up to be considered acceptable in society. Frankly, if you disagree with me… I don’t care. A person’s worth is not, and should not, be measured by what they wear.

I’ve worn the scarf for almost a decade now. It was always something I wanted to do. On January 1st 2012, with the help of a friend, I stepped out into public as a hijabi. My first interaction in public that day was a woman accosting me at a McDonald’s parking lot, calling me a “towelhead.” Since then, I’ve had people verbally harrass me on public transport, and have even been groped when out with friends or my husband. Fast forward to July 1st 2021, where I’ve had to make the difficult decision to take off my scarf due to persistent health issues. One of my first interactions in public was a man ogling my breasts… as a 7 month pregnant woman… walking in the mall whilst holding my husband’s hand. My point is, it didn’t matter what I wore. It certainly wasn’t seen as me pushing my ideologies on anyone, nor was it seen as a deterrent for them to attack me.

So why do we care so much about what women wear or don’t wear? Why do we place so much importance on dictating on what women should or shouldn’t wear? Why do we fail to educate people instead?

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I did a poll a few days back trying to understand why my hijab could make someone uncomfortable. I was triggered by the recurring news of the hijab bans, the latest one being the EU’s top court allowing employers to ban it in the workplace, especially where there is face to face interactions with clients.

Through my poll, I understood that even though hijab could overwhelm, annoy or even confuse people, rarely anyone I know is threatened by it.

Hijab is a very basic piece of clothing for a Muslim. We shouldn’t be questioned, let alone be banned from wearing it. Imagine if one day a culture bans people from wearing footwear, sun hat or clothes altogether because it makes someone uncomfortable. We would be outraged because we cannot be denied the right to choose how much to cover ourselves in public. Understand the same outrage from hijabis all over the world every few months with such bans.

This is just a little reminder to everyone.

Hijab isn’t a threat to you. It is however a threat to those patriarchal institutions that cannot have a woman decide anything for herself. Such institutions are powerful enough to control your ideologies too, unfortunately. So think hard about the reason you don’t like a hijab.

And if you just dislike a hijabi for being a Muslim, that’s a discussion for another day.

Even so you shouldn’t stand for denying us our basic rights just because you can’t stand me. Don’t you agree?

In any case, try to approach a hijabi kindly about your apprehensions. Most would love to clarify your doubts. However, some might feel they don’t owe it to explain to anyone and that should be okay,  too.

The post Why does my hijab make you uncomfortable? appeared first on World Hijab Day.